Household apparatus



June 3, 1930. w rr Y l,761,553

HOUS EHOLD APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1927 Ll FWI z 1x151. by w vy Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LYMAN F. WHITNEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO STATOR REFRIGERATION, INC., A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE HOUSEHOLD APPARATUS Application filed January 6, 1927. Serial No. 159,345.

This invention relates to household apparatus adapted to impart energy from any suitable source to a fluid, in order to provide refrigeration and subsequently to absorb a part of the energy originally imparted to the fluid and to direct the same in the form of heat to a hot water system for househld use or the like. Thus the invention pertains to a suitable apparatus and process for controlling and combining factors ordinarily used in supplying refrigeration and hot water for household use inorder to conserve the total amountof energy used and under favorable conditions to permit the energization of the combined utilities at approximately the usual operating cost of one. VJ

While this invention may be appropriately used in conjunction with a refrigerating system of the general character disclosed in 00-- pending application No. 733,699 of Eastman A. Weaver, filed August 23, 1924, or more particularly a system of the type shown in my copending applications Nos. 159,342; 159,343 159,344 and 159,346 filed January 6, 1927, the invention may also be used with many types of refrigerating systems which are characterized by the compression and/or heating of a circulating medium toimpart energy thereto and the subsequent cooling thereof either by condensation or dissipation of heat in other Ways; the cooling preferably taking place by the circulation of water around the heat dissipator or condenser.

A partlcularly favorable situation for use of this invention is in conjunction with a system of the type disclosed in the above-named applications, in which a propellent fluid with a high temperature of condensation pumps a refrigerant fluid through its cycle, the propellent fluid being condensed out of the refrigerant at a comparatively high temperature and the heat derived from said condensation at hi h temperature being transferred in any suita le way to a tank suitable for hot water storage purposes.

Afurther aspect of the invention is particularly applicable to a refrigerating system in which energy is received from the burning of fuel, means being provided whereby a flue conducts exhaust gases to a heat interchanger for conserving heat which would be otherwise dissipated with v the gases emittedthrough the flue and transferring the same giiieictly to the hot water system of the house- The above and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the subjoined description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a household system for refrigeration and for heating hot water for household purposes;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail.

While the principle of this invention may be used in conjunction with refrigerating systems of widely different types, in which it is either necessary or feasible to absorb part of the energy originally imparted to the system by the circulation of cooling water about a heat dissipator, condenser, or the like, the invention is herein illustrated in conjunction with a refrigerating system of the general type disclosed in the aforesaid copending application No. 159,344, with which a hot water heating system may be advantageously combined. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the numeral 1 designates a cooler of any suitable form which may ordinarily be located within the conventional household refrigerator. A condenser 2 for liquid refrigerant is preferably located at a higher level than the cooler and is connected thereto by a suitable upwardly extending duct 3, provided with a liquid trap 4 which has a horizontal continuation 5 opening into the cooler. The upper end of duct 3 may terminate at the bottom of the separating chamber 6, the latter-having its upper end connected to the condenser and having an outwardly and downwardly extending passageway 9 intermediate its height (Fig. 3) which leads to the aspirator.

Adjoining the lower part of the system is a vaporizer 13, preferably designedto boil a propellent flui having a comparatively big. 1

' ergy to the system. This element can conveniently be a gas burner controlled by the valve 12 and provided with an upwardly ex tending outlet flue 16. This burner is preferably arranged within the vaporizer 13, and an upwardly extending duct 17 surrounds flue l6 and joins a short pipe 11 to connect thevaporizer with the aspirator nozzle 19. The latter is adapted to draw refrigerant into the mixing chamber 20 through a .suitable vapor duct 31 from the upper portion of the cooler 1.

The refrigerant may be any desired volatile liquid, such, for example, as water or a solution of caustic in water, but preferably it has a much lower boiling point than the propellent liquid. The mixing chamber 20 is provided with a drain 22 adapted to permit the flow of condensed propellent fluid back to the boiler 13.

In concentric alignment with the aspirator tube 19 is combined compression duct and condenser 21, which is adapted to receive the rapidly moving propellent vapor as it leaves the aspirator inouth and the refrigerant vapor that is impelled thereby. Duct 21 is downwardly inclined and is surrounded by a suitable water jacket 52, being adapted to effect the condensation of nearly all of the propellent fluid, which may drain through pipes 23 and 24 to the pipe 22 and thus to the boiler. The condensed propellant forms suit-- able static liquid columns in these pipes, thereby balancing the vapor pressure in boiler 13. Duct 21 has a continuation inthe upwardly extending passageway 9, which is connected with the separating chamber 6 and thus with condenser 2. Passageway 9 is adapted to direct the refrigerant vapor to the condensepQ where condensation takes place and from which the refrigerant in a liquid state passes to the bottom of chamber 6 bubbling through trap 4 and pipe 5 to the cooler 1 from which it is drawn by the suction of aspirator 19, thus repeating the cycle.

The boiling pointdf a propellent fluid, such as mercury, being in the neighborhood of 350 0., condensation thereof may take place at a comparatively high temperature, and considerable heat will therefore be imparted to the water in acket 52. The present invention more particularly relates to the conservation of this heat by disclosing means whereby the water circulating through the cooling jacket may be used for household storage purposes. To this end a suitable water tank 40,

which may be of the form conventionally used for household purposes, has its lower portion connected to the corresponding portion of the water jacket 52 by piping 41, while the upper end of the jacket is preferas the city mains, by a pipe 45 and with the usual household outlet or outlets, as designated by numeral 46.

In order to maintain the temperature of the circulating water in tank 40 and water jacket 52 below a predetermined minimum,

for example, below the boiling point of water, a thermostatically controlled drain 47 may be provided, this drain preferably leading from the upper or the hottest part of the tank and being controlled by any suitable thermostatic valve 48. Thermosiphonic circulation will take place through pipes 41 and 42, water jacket 52, and tank 40, the hottest water passing from the upper part of the water jacket through pipe 42 to the upper part of tank 40, where the water is cooled or drained ofl", and the cooled water which has passed to the bottom of the tank or which has been received from the inlet pipe 45 passing through the pipe 41 to the cooler part of the water jacket where the heat of the mer cury vapor is absorbed.

Obviously both the amount of hot water used for household purposes andthe amount of energy required for suitable refrigeration are widely variable factors which are governed by a number of different conditions, such, for example, as the season of the year, the hour of the day, the location of the refrigerator, and the habits and number of individuals in the particular household. It is, therefore, impractical if not impossible to design a combined system of this type in which the residual heat imparted to the circulating water will be just sufficient to heat a proper quantity of water for household purposes to the proper temperature. For example, during the summer the amount of heat energy required for refrigeration is the I greatest, and therefore the heat given up by the pipe 21 should be at its maximum. At the same time the quantity of heat which it will be necessary to impart to the water in order 1 to warm it for household purposes will be somewhat less than at other seasons of the year, and normally in most households the demand for hot water is less in the summer. Under these conditions, the thermostatically controlled drain permits the maintenance of the water supply below a certain maximum temperature. However, in other seasons of the year, when the amount of energy required for refrigeration may be very low and yet a large amount of hot water may be needed, the quantity of heat derived from the condenser 21 may be insuflicient properly to heat the water. For such a condition it may be desirable to use auxiliary heating means, for

example, a conventional automatic, thermostatically controlled water heater so that if at any time the temperature of the water within the tank 40 should fall below a predetermined minimum because suflicient heat has not been supplied by the condenser 21, the conventional gas flame or other heating factor may be automatically energized and the water may be heated to a predetermined minimum temperature.

Thus in any case where the temperature of propellent vapor condensation is sufficiently high, a marked saving will be derived from utilizing the energy normally dissipated in refrigeration for heating household water, thus permitting combined operation of these separate household utilities at approximately the usual operating cost of one of the same and, furthermore, that there will be less heat to be dissipated in the air ofthe kitchen, cellar, or the like with the attendant heating up of such a room, which is particularly undesirable in hot weather.

Obviously apparatus of this character, al-

though particularly suited for household use,

is also advantageous in restaurants, cafs, hotels, clubs, camps, boats, or other locations where-in both refrigeration and heatingof a water supply are desirable utilities, and all such installations are to be regarded as within the scope of the invention and of the appended claims.

I claim:

. 1. The process of providing refrigeratio and heating water to a temperature of the order of that ordinarily employed for house hold uses, which comprises aspirating a refrigerant fluid with a propellent fluid having a boilingtemperature which is high compared to that of said refrigerant fluid and that of water, passing the resulting mixture of vapors through a condenser at a temperature above the boiling point of the refrigerant whereby the propellant is condensed out of the refrigerant, effecting the condensation of said propellant by a current of water, whereby the residual heat of condensation is absorbed in the water, and supplying the tor comprising a hot water storage tank, a I cooler for the refrigerator, and means for .producing refrigeration in the cooler comheated water to a point of household use.

2. A combined water heater and refrigerator using a liquid having a high boiling point, comprising a hot water storage tank, a cooler-for the refrigerator, and means for producing refrigeration in the cooler comprising a fluid circuit for said liquid, said circuit including a continuously operating vaporizer and a condenser in which said liquid is vaporized and condensed successively, a

heater for said vaporizer, said condenser and said'heater being in heat transfer relation to 3. A combined water heater and refrigera- I tor comprising a hot water storage tank, a

cooler for the refrigerator, and means for producing refrigeration 1n the cooler comprising a fluid circuit, said circuit including a continuously operating vaporizer and a condenser in which the fluid is vaporized and condensed successively, a burner for heating said vaporizer, a flue for hot gases emitted by' said burner, a acket surrounding said flue and being in heat transfer relation'to the water in said tank, whereby some of the heat of the burner is applied to heating the water.

4. A combined water heater and refrigerator comprising a hot water storage tank, a cooler for the refrigerator, and'means for producing refrigeration in the cooler comprising a fluid circuit for a liquid having a high boiling point, said circuit including a vaporizer and a condenser in which said liquid is vaporized and condensed successively, aburner for heating said vaporizer, a flue for hot gases emitted by said burner, a jacket surrounding said flue and being in heat transfer relation to the water in said tank, said condenser also being in heat transfer relation to the water in said tank, whereby heat coming directly from the burner aswell as from the condensing vapor will cause'the heating of the water above room temperature.

5. A combined water heater and refrigera- ,tor comprising a hot. water storage tank, a

cooler for the refrigerator, and means for producing refrlgeratlon 1n the cooler comprising a fluid circuit for a liquidhaving a high boiling point, said circuit including a vaporlzer and a condenser 1n WlllCh sald l1q uid is vaporized and condensed successively,

a burner for heating said vaporizer, a flue for hot ases emitted by said burner, a duct connectlng the vaporizer and condenser, a part of said duct being in heat transfer relation with said flue, a jacket above said duct and surrounding said flue and being in heat transfer relation to the water in said tank, wherei by some of the heat of the burner is applied to heating the water.

6. -A combined water heater and refrigera some of the heat from the burner as well as from the condensed vapor may heat the water above room temperature.

7. The method of conjointly producing refrigeration and heating water for house hold purposes, which comprises the production of heat absorption in a refrigerator by circulating a fluid around a closed cycle, heating the fluid in one part of its cycle to a temperature in excess of that of hot water for household purposes, utilizing a portion of the heat applied to this part of the system for effecting refrigeration, and a portion of this heat for directly heating a hot water storage tank, and transferring heat from the fluid to the storage tank in another part of its cycle.

8. The process of providing refrigeration and heating water to a temperature of the order of that ordinarily employed for household uses, which comprises aspirating a refrigerant fluid having a normal boiling temperature with a propellent fluid having a comparatively high boiling temperature by burning inflammable material, passing the resulting mixture of fluid vapors through a condenser at a temperatureabove the boiling point of therefrigerant, effecting the condensation of said propellant by a current of water, conducting said water as thus heated to a point of household use and conjointly utilizing hot gases from the burner for heating water which is conducted to saidpoint of household use.

9. The process of providing refrigeration and heating water to a temperature of the order of that ordinarily employed for household use, which comprises vaporizing a propellent fluid, drawing vapor from refrigerant in a cooler by entrainment in a stream of the propellent vapor, subsequently condensing the propellent vapor while conducting a portion of the residual heat of condensation to the water supply system, and preventing the temperature of the water in said system from exceeding a predetermined maximum with out affecting the withdrawal of vapor from the cooler or condensation of the propellent vapor.

10. Apparatus for providing refrigeration and for heating water, comprising a source of-propellent vapor, means forthe entrainment of refrigerant vapor in the propellent vapor whereby the energy for refrigeration is transmitted to the refrigerant, a condenser for the propellant, a separate'condenser for the refrigerant connected to an outlet of the first condenser whereby a propellant having a boiling point higher than that of the refrigerant may be condensed in the first condenser, and means for conducting heat from said first condenser to a hot water supply system.

11. The process of refrigeration which comprises burning fuel to heat a fluid to vaporize vthe same, utilizing the energy of this vaporized fluid to draw vapor from a refrigerant liquid, subsequently condensing the vapor of the heated fluid while transfering a portion of the heat of condensation to a supply of water, and providing this water supply with additional heat from the hot waste gases that result from the burning fu'el.

' 12. Apparatus for providing refrigeration and for heating Water, comprising a source of propellent vapor, means for the entrainment of refrigerant vapor in the propellent vapor whereby the energy for refrigeration is transmitted to the refrigerant, a condenser connected to said means, a separate condenser connected to an outlet of the first condenser whereby a propellant and refrigerant having dilferent boiling points may be separately condensed, and means for conducting heat from said first condenser to a hot water supply system.

13. The art of providing refrigeration and heating a fluid for household purposes, comprising vaporizing a propellant, employing the propellent va or to entrain vapor from a body of liquid re rigerant in a cooler, thereby 

